25 years ago: Lawrence resident opposes home-daycare businesses

Downtown Lawrence was not for the faint of heart today as the annual sidewalk sale had started even before sunrise. A few merchants had begun selling their merchandise as early as 6 a.m., with most businesses doing a brisk trade by 7:30. By midday, several tables of bargain-priced clothing had undergone major upheavals.

A local woman's effort to eliminate home-based daycares was threatening the existence of such businesses in all RS-1 and RS-2 districts, both of which were single-family residential zoning designations. A local resident was pushing for the change, saying that the businesses should not be allowed in a residential area and that they could be nuisances in a quiet neighborhood. Advocates for the daycares said that the elimination of these smaller, home-based operations would inconvenience a large portion of the working population of Lawrence.